VMV Hypoallergenics Oil-Free Quick & Complete Makeup Remover

After a not-so-pleasant experience with VMV's Gentle & Softening Makeup Removing Oil, it was time to try its alternative, the Oil-Free Quick & Complete Makeup Remover. 

It comes in only one size, 140ml. 

The plastic bottle is simple and looks recyclable. VMV's revamped typeface saves its rather sparsely-designed packaging. 

The opening is quite huge, so be careful when pouring out the contents. 

It's true that it removes face and eye makeup quickly and painlessly. I usually use a cotton pad/ball to apply the product. It leaves the face slightly damp and moisturized; no stinging, burning, or other irritations. 

It's good that VMV prints out its manufacturing and expiration dates. 

Ingredients list. 

Some more. 

L'Occitane Honey Foaming Gel

May I say my favorite type of soap is honey-based. It makes skin so soft and sweet-smelling without the bothersome cloy. And boy was I glad to be surprised with L'Occitane's Honey Foaming Gel (thank you 大 姐). Of course my joy escalated when I saw the teddy bear on the bottle (part of the Shea Honey Collection). Two of my favorite things in a body product!

It comes in a generously-sized 250ml bottle. The cap is the press type, so it is quite convenient to maneuver in the shower. 

The caramel liquid-gel truly is a gentle wash. A dollop can whip up a good amount of soapy concoction. The smell is divine and it lingers quite a bit throughout the day. The best part is it leaves the skin clean and soft.  

Ingredients above. It would be nice if L'Occitane came up with more honey-themed products. It does a whole lot of benefit for the skin and is always a treat to those who like honey/milk-based beauty products. 

VMV Gentle & Softening Makeup Removing Oil

Running out of makeup remover, I sought out VMV again. 

It was a choice between water- or oil-based. In the end, I opted for the Gentle & Softening Makeup Removing Oil. 

It comes in a very simple white box with the description found on top and at the back.  

I initially thought it can be used as a cleansing oil, but spread all over the face with my bare hands, it was difficult to wash off the oily residue. 

In the end, I found the best method was as instructed, to apply it using a cotton ball/pad. 

Even then, it can be quite oily and I wipe it off with tissue before washing the face with the Red Better Deeply Soothing Cleansing Cream. 

It lifts off the day's dirt and grime when I don't wear makeup, which is most days; and when I do, it does a good job at thoroughly removing it. 

Above, the ingredients list. 

I'd probably look for a less oilier formulation for my next makeup remover. But for those who aren't bothered, this is a very effective, gentle makeup remover for the face. It didn't cause me any skin trouble in the form of breakouts. 

Do visit their website for a host of other products. 

Use within 12 months of opening. 

VMV Hypoallergenics Red Better Deeply Soothing Cleansing Cream

I am greeting with good cheer VMV's latest Red Better line. How lovely for them to formulate products especially for treating the less-than-appealing crimson state of our faces. Make way for VMV's Red Better Deeply Soothing Cleansing Cream -- an ultra-mild cleanser that is friendly to the most troublesome of epidermises. 

It comes in VMV's typical white box. May I say am I so glad the brand changed their packaging's design?

The tube is made of soft, pliable material. One earns VMV points for returning boxes and empty containers. 

It contains a host of soothing ingredients. 

Inside. 

The cleanser is rich, creamy, and extremely smooth -- not far from vanilla milkshake. It doesn't give much lather, but that is the case for most gentle cleansers. I like that it doesn't make my skin dry/feel too tight. I do tend to use more product than a foaming cleanser, but it otherwise leaves the skin calm and clean. Please note that I use this as the second step in double-cleansing. If I were to skip my makeup remover, I would probably wash my face twice with this product for a totally clean face. 

Ingredients above. VMV, I noticed, uses coconut oil in most of its products. This cleanser hasn't caused me any breakouts or irritation. 

It is recommended to be used together with the other Red Better products. 

Some skin care advice. 

The light-brown print is soy-based. 

Glue-free box is a clever idea. 

Overall, it is an effective cleanser for people prone to redness and hypersensitivity. I am on my second tube and would continue purchasing for now. 

M.A.C. Cleanse Off Oil

It's easy to overlook MAC's skincare line, given that the brand is better known for makeup. While looking for a cleansing oil replacement, MAC uncharacteristically popped to mind -- and I went off to acquaint myself with its Cleanse Off Oil. 

It comes in a white box embossed with countless MAC on the outer packaging. 

Don't forget the "Back 2 MAC" program; exchange three empty MAC containers for a free lipstick.

The product is packaged snugly. 

The clear plastic bottle makes it easy to see how much product is left.

This pale yellow, lightly scented cleansing oil removes light to medium makeup well, but not as thoroughly as say, Ipsa or Shu Uemura. Although I haven't tried using it on its own, I think it is still necessary to follow up with a foaming/cream cleanser (double cleanse) to thoroughly remove all residue. It is very light in consistency, and should be a nice alternative to heavier oils for oily to combination skin types. However, I always have trouble with blurred vision after using this because the product somehow manages to enter my eyes no matter how tightly I shut them. This rarely occurred with other cleansing oils I've used before. Given its pricepoint, it also doesn't provide adequate skincare benefits. I would expect softer skin after washing with this, of which I have experienced with other brands. Otherwise, this makes a nice, basic cleansing oil -- but sadly, too basic for my tastes. 

Turn-lock. 

More.

Ingredients list.

Ipsa Cleansing Sensitive Creamy Mousse

Ipsa -- my first exposure to Japanese skincare. It will always have a special place in my memory bank. Time and again, I revisit its counter in Sogo Causeway Bay, where I had my first taste of Time Reset. Ipsa fans, you know what I'm talking about. On second thought, the very first products were Cleansing Clear Foam EX and Metabolizers in the now defunct Seibu (in Windsor House). 

So last year, in my quest to quell the rebellion of my facial skin, I found myself looking at Ipsa's sensitive care line. The Cleansing Sensitive Creamy Mousse is relatively new. It wasn't part of the original product lineup. 

It comes in a sturdy, plastic self-foaming bottle. I adore the simple color blocking. It captures the brand's image and the line's purpose perfectly.

Product description above. It is additive-, fragrance-, colorant-free. Music to me! The cleanser in foam form would be less irritating to sensitive skin. With three pumps per use at night, it did cleanse my face thoroughly. In the morning, when there is less dirt to remove, one or two sufficed. Overall, this is a good, basic cleanser for sensitive skin -- no irritations, but just a tad drying. I have tried filling up the bottle with Muji's Cleansing Foam (Mousse) for sensitive skin, and found that to give a more balanced result, although the foam produced is rougher in comparison to the very smooth foam of Cleansing Sensitive Creamy Mousse. The bottle can be kept for future use, as the self-foaming mechanism of the pump is a good investment if you prefer foamy cleansers. This cleanser was easy to use up -- about 5 weeks and it was goodbye. Gone too quick for the price tag, but nonetheless a pleasant experience. 

Here is the Japanese take, for those lucky to understand kanji/hiragana, etc. 

The back label. 

Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel

It's easy to tell by now that one of my favorite brands is Clarins. During a visit to England, I happened to catch their Daily Energizers range, currently unheard of in Asia.  

Over there, they give samples freely and happily so. Here, I always have to contend with snotty SAs responding to my requests as if I were very odd indeed. 

The small sample I got cleansed my face very well during the wintry time I was in the land of the Queen. It left my face clean, soft, and balanced. So off I went to purchase a full bottle to use at home.

This is the latest range to be introduced to Clarins, and is meant for people from 18 to their late 20s. It is interesting how Clarins is trying to capture the entire spectrum of age groups; whereas before it has only covered the 30s and up market. 

I agreed to the above when I first used up the sample in cold climes. 

The Daily Energizing Cleansing Gel is a gel-type cleanser containing saponaria and moringa seed extracts to refresh and cleanse, respectively.

As always, a message from J.C.C.

Product description.

It comes in a tube bottle that retails for £10, cheaper than most Clarins cleansers as a whole, but its measly 75ml content makes it more expensive per ounce in actuality.  

Once opened, the scent is hard to miss. It is a glorious, lovely scent -- soft citrus with sweet notes that calms and invigorates at the same time. If I could have it my way, I would have all my cleansers smelling like this cleansing gel. 

The cool water in the am and warm water in the pm instruction worked very well when I tried the sample. 

Alas, back in Manila this cleanser did not work. It stung my eyes, for one, which is very odd for I did not have that experience before. It was also very drying, making my face raw and sensitive to touch. It is really peculiar how the same product can vary greatly in results in different locations. I am starting to think it could be because Manila provides soft water, and where I visited they use hard water. Overall, this is a good product but would depend on one's location/type of water used and skin sensitivity. The product also lasted me for only a little over a month, quite fast for a cleanser which I normally go through in three months' time. 

The pamphlet. 

Product description.

Ingredients list.